Thrawn and the Mandos

I like the idea that an attack on/of Mandalor is one of the catalysts that starts the Rebel Alliance. It makes sense that there was some event that made people start to question the motives of the Empire/Emperor and also explains why we do not see Mandalor in the Original Trilogy.

Another fine line Rebels has to walk was established by Vader in Rogue One, "An Imperial facility openly attacked!", referring to the X-wing strike on Eadu. The way the line is delivered suggests this has never happened before.

Rebels stayed true to this so far as there has been various low-scale sabotage and confrontations at Imperial facilities but certainly not a coordinated attack on an Imperial facility.

All of this shows just what type of challenges Rebels has in creating new shows because it will be running into Rogue One and A New Hope. It makes navigating the canon and creating compelling stories very difficult, without adding a bunch of "filler" episodes. I think we will see one more season of Rebels, possibly shortened, after this season that culminates in the Battle of Scarif.

 

I think this is very plausible.

I too have been trying to figure out how the Mandos will factor in, yet aren't apparent during the OT.

My only problem is that it may be TOO fine of a line that the Mandos rise up against the Empire at the same time as the Rebel Alliance is forming, led by a Rebel (Sabine), yet they are not considered as part of the Rebellion. I think the only way it works is for Sabine to be the Catalyst for their unification, but ultimately not their leader. Even so, the Rebels would have to be somehow a part of it, and that links them to the Rebellion in Thrawn's eyes at least.

 

I guess I'm going on the clips in the trailer showing a pretty substantial fleet forming this season, and Mon Mothma talking of an Alliance. Having those scenes happen while Thrawn is studying them makes it tough for Sabine's involvement in the Mando uprising from not being connected in Thrawn's mind.

However, Thrawn could see the Mandos as the only real threat within the Rebellion, and having him destroy that portion of the Rebellion could in his mind be a serious blow to them.